Ice maker with ice spreader for receiver



Aug. 16, 1966 w. G. WINKLER ICE MAKER WITH ICE SPREADER FOR RECEIVER3,266,265 ICE MAKER WITH ICE SPREADER FOR RECEIVER Wynn G. Winkler, St.Paul, Minn., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 407,992 2 Claims. (Cl. 62-344)This invention relates to an ice maker for producing loose masses of iceand including an ice spreader means for distributing a loose mass of icethrough a receiver and away from the ice maker proper.

There is disclosed in the copending application of Donald F. Swanson andWynn G. Winkler Serial No. 374,- 642, filed June 12, 1964, assigned tothe same assignee as the present application, an ice maker whichproduces lose masses of ice which are deposited on the bottom of areceiver such as a subfreezing chamber of an insulated structure. In thecustomary operation of such an ice maker means are provided for shuttingoff the ice maker when the mound gets so high. In such cases it oftenhappens that the bin is not completely full. Also, the ice tends tobuildup toward the ice maker in a mound with the result that the top ofthe mound could possibly interfere with the proper operation of the icemaker. The present invention provides an ice maker including an icespreader means which will spread the ice away from the maker and overthe bottom of the receiver after the ice has reached a predetermineddepth.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved icemaker for producing loose masses of ice and including a driven icespreader means above the bottom of a receiver for distributing the iceaway from the ice maker and along the bottom.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of one embodiment thereof as shown in theaccompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an ice maker embodying theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 plus the addition of a bottom Water receivingtrough not shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating thestructure for rotatably securing one end of the driven ice spreadermeans.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating the mountingmeans for the other end of the ice spreader means.

In the illustrated embodiment there is disclosed diagrammatically achamber for receiving the ice and in cluding a bottom 11, with thechamber containing an ice maker 12 for producing loose masses of ice.The ice maker 12 is of the type disclosed in more detail in the abovementioned Swanson et al. application and .cludes a substantiallyhorizontally arranged and generally cylindrical evaporator shell 13, awater distributing system including a trough 14 with small openings 15and a water conduit 16 for conveying water to the trough 14.

Water in the trough 14 flows through the openings 15 onto the surface ofthe cylindrical evaporator shell 13 where it is recirculated asexplained in the above Swanson et al. application.

Ice removing means is provided as a part of the ice maker 12 with thisremoving means 18 comprising rotatably driven end rings 19 and 20carrying spaced metal rods 21 which are spaced closely adjacent theouter surface of the evaporator shell 13. As the removing means 18 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, and inthe manner explained in the above copending Swanson et a1. application,the rods 21 bear United States Patent 0 against the ice formed on theevaporator shell 13 and break it loose and move the ice by the notationover the right side of bottom water receiver 17, as viewed in FIG- URE2, whereupon the ice falls onto the bottom 11 of the receiver 10.

Because the ice gathers on the bottom 11 of the receiver in a loose massit tends to build up to the point where it contacts and can interferewith the operation of the ice maker 12. In order to distribute the iceover the bottom 11 of the receiver there is provided a driven icespreader means 22.

The ice spreader means 22 is in the form of a screw and is rotated in aclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 2, in order to distribute theice away from the ice maker 12 toward the opposite end 23 of thereceiver 10.

The screw of the ice spreader means 22 comprises an elongate axial rod24 around which is arranged a helical rod 25 with the convolutionsspaced from each other and from the axial rod 24. With this arrangement,as soon as the mound of loose ice reaches a predetermined depth which isapproximately equivalent to the height of the ice spreader means 22above the receiver bottom 11, it is engaged by the ice spreader meansand distributed over the receiver bottom 11.

In the illustrated embodiment the ice spreader 22 is driven throughpower transfer means from the powered ice removing means 18 of the icemaker. The particular power transfer means illustrated comprisesinterengaging friction drive members on the removing means and thespreader means. Thus, the ice spreader 22 includes a wheel 26 mounted onthe axial rod 24 with this Wheel having an annular friction covering 27which is in the form of a rubber tire. This tire 27 bears against theend ring 19 of the ice removing means 18 so that rotation of the iceremoving means also rotates the ice distributing means through thefriction tire 27. With this arrangement the ice in the receiver 10 isdistributed over the bottom 11 of the receiver as described.

The spreader 22 is removably mounted in end brackets so that it can beremoved for cleaning and other purposes. As is shown most clearly inFIGURE 3, the end wall 23 of the receiver is provided with a block 28having an opening 29 therein for receiving the reduced end 30 of theaxial rod 24.

The opposite wall 31 of the receiver 10 is provided with a similar block32 for receiving the opposite reduced end 33 of the rod 24. In thisblock 32, however, the rod receiving opening is in the form of a slantedupward- 1y open slot 34 with the slot angled toward the ice maker 12, asindicated at the right hand side of FIGURE 1. With this arrangement theend 30 is first placed in the opening 29 in the block 28 and then theend 33 is forced to the bottom of the angled slot 34. Because of theangle it is necessary to compress the resilient friction tire 27 againstthe ice maker ring 29 before the :rod can enter the slot 34. Theresiliency of the tire, of course, permits this. Then, any tendency ofthe rod end 33 to ride up and out of the inclined slot 34 'will merelypress the tire more closely against the ring 19. Accidental dislodgementof the rod 24 is thereby greatly minimized.

The rods 28 and 32 operate as bearings for the distributor 22 as well asreleasable holding means therefor.

The ice maker of this invention not only provides approximately uniformleveling of the ice across the bottom 11 of the receiver but alsoautomatically compensates for unequal removal of the ice by a. userthereof. Thus, it maintains at substantially all times an approximatelyfull receiver or bin. The device is also quite safe as if the usershould come in contact with the ice distributor 22 the resiliency of thehelical wire 25 will cause it to yield and the resistance caused by theaccidental contact will stop the rotation of the spreader whereupon thering 19 will merely slide against the stationary friction tire 27.

Another very important advantage of the ice spreader 22 is that itserves as a lateral guard, as shown in FIG- URE 2, to aid in preventingaccidental contact of the used with the rotating ice removing means 18.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description, unless otherwisespecified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scopeas set out in the accompanying claims. The embodiment of the inventionin which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined asfollows:

1. In an ice maker for producing loose masses of ice, apparatuscomprising: a receiver, having a bottom, in which said loose masses arereceived; an ice maker above said bottom halving powered rotatable meansfor removing ice therefrom in said loose mass; means for transferringsaid removed ice from said ice maker to said receiver bottom; a drivenice spreader means above said bottom for distributing said ioe away fromsaid ice maker and along said bottom comprising a screw arranged abovesaid bottom rotatable about the screw axis, said screw comprising anelongate axial member and a helical member concentric therewith andspaced therefrom; and power transfer means for driving said ice spreadermeans from said powered removing means comprising interen- 4t gagingfriction drive members on said removing means and said ice spreadermeans.

2, In an ice maker for producing loose masses of ice, apparatuscomprising: a receiver, having a bottom, in which said loose masses arereceived; an ice maker above which bottom having powered rotatable meansfor removing ice therefrom in said loose mass; a driven ice spreadermeans above said bottom for distributing said ice away from said icemaker and along said bottom; power transfer means for driving said icespreader means from. said powered removing means comprisinginterengaging yielding friction drive members on said removing means andsaid ice spreader means; and releasable mounting means for said icespreader means urging said friction members toward each other onreleasing movement of the ice spreader means from said mounting means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,024 11/1940Field.

2,674,396 4/1954 Peterson 222-56 2,730,865 1/1956 Murdock 62-3472,791,887 5/1957 Henning 62-344 X 3,052,557 9/1962 Vidal et al 62-3473,192,734 7/1965 Swanson 62-344 X 3,196,628 7/1965 Reynolds 62-354 XROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner.

2. IN AN ICE MAKER FOR PRODUCING LOOSE MASSES OF ICE, APPARATUSCOMPRISING: A RECEIVER, HAVING A BOTTOM, IN WHICH SAID LOOSE MASSES ARERECEIVED; AN ICE MAKER ABOVE WHICH BOTTOM HAVING POWERED ROTATABLE MEANSFOR REMOVING ICE THEREFROM IN SAID LOOSE MASS; A DRIVEN ICE SPREADERMEANS ABOVE SAID BOTTOM FOR DISTRIBUTING SAID ICE AWAY FROM SAID ICEMAKER AND ALONG SAID BOTTOM; POWER TRANSFER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID ICESPREADER MEANS FROM SAID POWDERED REMOVING MEANS COMPRISINGINTERENGAGING YIELDING FRICTION DRIVE MEMBERS ON SAID REMOVING MEANS ANDSAID ICE SPREADER MEANS; AND RELEASABLE MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID ICESPREADER MEANS URGING SAID FRICTION MEMBERS TOWARD EACH OTHER ONRELEASING MOVEMENT OF THE ICE SPREADER MEANS FROM SAID MOUNTING MEANS.